Transformations of the British Monarchy During the Reign of Elizabeth II (1952–2022)

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to present the results of the research on the transformations of the British monarchy during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in the context of the latest changes in the system of international relations, in which Great Britain traditionally plays a unique role.

The research methodology was formed by the principles of historicism, systematicity, general scientific methods of logic, comparative analysis, special historical methods (historiographical analysis, historical-systemic, chronology, historical-genetic, retrospective analysis, comparative-historical).

The scientific novelty of the work consists in the study of the historical processes of state formation in Great Britain during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, their correlation with the latest changes in the system of international relations, in which Great Britain traditionally plays a unique role, as well as the role of the British monarch in the development of Ukrainian-British interstate relations. The main achievements and problems of the evolution of the British monarchy in the specified period are shown. An assessment of the political legacy of Queen Elizabeth II for her successor Charles III is formulated. The position of the British monarchs regarding Ukraine and its opposition to Russian aggression is analyzed.

Conclusions. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain went down in history as an outstanding ruler and statesman of the international level. With her innovative and at the same time traditional English style of government, she managed to conquer the hearts of millions of people, and thanks to her personal activity, based on the principles of loyalty to democracy, openness and liberalism, she not only preserved, but also increased the influence of the British monarchy in difficult internal and external conditions. The popularity of the individual became a saving factor for preserving and increasing the authority of the institution of the monarchy in broad social strata. The reign of Elizabeth II became a transit (transitional) period in the history of the British monarchy from the legacy of traditionalism of the imperial Victorian era to a new type of post-imperial monarchy of the 21st century, which poses qualitatively new requirements and tasks for this institution. Her Majesty became the personification of the unity of the historical periods of the modern world history of the second half of the 20th century – the first quarter of the 21st century, honorably leading Great Britain through the path of post-war reconstruction, the country’s search for a place in the newest system of changing international coordinates, which has not yet been fully determined, as evidenced by a complex process Brexit. Allied relations with Ukraine, which have reached an unprecedented level of productivity against the background of the Russian invasion, help define a new meaning of British greatness in Europe and the world. This is also the merit of Her Majesty, who in a peculiar manner has always been able to subtly, timely and adequately respond to new trends in national and world politics in her unique style.